Oh Father
It had all come down to this. Narcissa had started it by giving him the picture with a name. His father's name. Alessandro Zabini. The man was hard to find. The obvious place to start had been Italy, but it had been very hard to find them without giving his own name. The Zabinis were a very respected, and very protected, family in Italy. The specifics that he'd gotten from Narcissa around his own birth were mind-blowing.
His entire life, his mother had told him that when he had been conceived, his father wanted nothing to do with him, and told her to go to England and stay there. He sent just enough money to keep Calanthe comfortable, and even more to ensure she stayed out of his life.
After searching for more than a week for the truth, he had found out this wasn't true at all.
His mother seduced his Alessandro into an affair. He had been engaged at the time, but his mother was particularly convincing when she wanted to be. After ensuring conception with a fertility potion, she became pregnant. When she had proof that a baby was on its way, she went to Alessandro and demanded the English manor which was hardly used anyway, money every month, and safe passage to England. If he didn't comply, she'd go to his family and tell them everything.
Alessandro gave into her demands and signed over everything. During the pregnancy, his mother had stayed in England, but a month before Blaise had been born, she went back to Italy and gave birth to him there. She contacted Alessandro and again threatened to go to his family if he didn't agree to sign the birth certificate to give Blaise the Zabini name. Newlywed and worried about what would happen to his family if he announced an illegitimate child, he agreed only if Calanthe never stepped foot in Italy again.
Of course she broke that promise numerous times. He remembered Italy from when he was younger, but they never did stay long. A few days at most. Blaise always wondered why they never stayed longer, especially since his mother always came back from Italy so happy.
Blaise snorted. She probably wrangled his father out of more money when she went. And when he had turned 18 and his mother left, she had stayed between Italy and Greece. Calanthe herself was half-Italian and half-Greek. He guessed that since he had the inheritance and would never leave her without money that it was fine to stay in Italy and not go near his father. Most of his information on the Zabini family showed they stayed in northern Italy, with only a few extended family members staying in the southern part of the country.
Hannah couldn't believe she was in Italy. Kristen was running the bakery, and Grace was staying with the sitter Quinn recommended. Her own daughter Erin stayed with the woman. Hannah found she rather liked Sarafinn Strega. She planned on having the woman to tea one afternoon so that Blaise could know her as well. Especially since he was so fond of Grace.
She was having to hurry to keep up with her fiance. He was walking quite briskly. She was wearing a green dress and looking very ladylike today. She hoped Alessandro Zabini saw Blaise today. It was more important to Blaise than he was letting on.
Blaise was nervous. Very nervous. He had no idea what the outcome of today would be, and he wasn't used to not being absolutely certain of everything. He turned to ask Hannah a question but found her to be a few steps behind.
"Sorry," he said, wincing. "I don't mean to race ahead of you. We're not far from the main office."
Hannah tucked her arm through his. "It's all right. You're nervous. There's no need to be. How can anyone not adore you? Though I could be biased."
Hannah was amazed at the security in the building. They had to surrender their wands and were subjected to security spells for hidden threats. Then they were stopped at the first reception desk on the ground floor. Hannah tried to understand, but she was still learning Italian. She was taking it upon herself to learn Italian and Greek since that was part of Blaise's heritage. She was teaching Grace some Italian as well. If Blaise's father did come see them, it would be nice for the children to be able to speak to him in his native tongue.
Blaise nodded at the woman at the front desk and pulled Hannah along. "We can go up to the floor where his office is, mainly because only his personal secretary knows his schedule. He's in a meeting at the moment though," he whispered to her as they walked towards the lifts. "At least she wasn't too rude about it."
"I only understood two words she said," Hannah said with a sigh. "I'm going to have to hire a tutor."
Blaise gave her a look as they stepped into the lift.
"I'm learning Italian and Greek. How do you feel about a vacation in Greece with all of the children late this summer before they have to return to school?"
"You won't need a tutor. I'll help you out." Blaise was touched that Hannah was learning the languages he grew up learning. "And Greece sounds lovely. I love the country. Mother used to take me there when I was little. I was obsessed with learning about the mythical Muses. There are some great restaurants in Athens."
They arrived on the floor he had been instructed to go to, and Blaise had to take a deep breath. He tightened his grip on Hannah's hand.
"Here we go."
Hannah gave his hand a squeeze. She waited back a bit as he approached the secretary's desk. She perused the waiting area and tried not to look antsy.
"Does Alessandro Zabini see anyone outside of appointments?" Blaise asked, half-hoping the answer was yes, and then wanting the answer to be no at the same time.
"I'm sorry sir, he doesn't. I'd be happy to schedule you an appointment, though. He doesn't have any openings until next Thursday," one of the secretaries replied immediately.
Blaise shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Could you send this to him though?" He handed over the letter and the secretary immediately took it, scanning it for spells. When she was done, she looked up at him with a quill ready.
"And who should I tell him the sender is?"
Blaise gave her a small grin. "Tell him Calanthe's son. She's an old friend of his."
The secretary nodded. "Can I get anything else for you?"
Blaise shook his head and looked over at Hannah. "You ready?"
"If you are," Hannah replied, a bit disappointed.
His father had not seen him. She was hoping he would. Then again Blaise had probably not said who he was. Blaise obviously wanted to go. She put her arm through his as they left the building.
"Did you want to go shopping or anything? Get some food? Show me anything? Something to make you feel better?"
With a sigh, Blaise tried to put his mind on the present instead of going over the many scenarios of what might have happened if his father had seen him. "Let's pop down to Venice. Plenty of good food and shopping. You may be able to convince one of the bakers to teach you about their bread. Sound good?"
"That sounds wonderful. Is Venice the place with the boats? What are they called? Gondolas? We could be tourist-y and take a ride in one."
Blaise made a face. He didn't like the gondolas, but he'd bear one for Hannah. She was getting excited, and that made him excited a bit. "If we must."
"I've never been on one, and I want my first time to be with you."
She blushed at the lecherous look on his face and just knew a mention that her first time had already been with him was on the horizon. It secretly pleased her that no one else had ever touched her in such a way and no one else ever would.
The secretary was about to tuck away the letter into a package of mail going up to the executive offices, which was where Alessandro was holding meetings, when the recipient of the letter walked out into the lobby.
"Signor Zabini!" she shouted, waving him over when he looked towards her. "A letter just came for you from a young man requesting an audience with you. I told him you were unavailable, and instead of requesting an appointment, he just left this."
Alessandro accepted the note. "And who is the sender?"
"He said he was a son of a friend of yours. Her name was Calanthe?" Alessandro's head snapped up from the letter to the secretary.
"Calanthe? Is the boy here?"
The secretary shook her head. "I'm sorry. He and the woman who came with him just left. He didn't leave a name."
"I know his name," Alessandro said, fingering the letter before turning back to the secretary. "Cancel everything for the rest of the day. I'll be in my office in case of an emergency." He immediately went into to his office and closed the door, putting a strong locking charm on it for good measure. He sat in his chair behind his desk, and with shaking hands, he undid the Zabini seal on the letter. After he took the letter out, he laid it flat on the desk and started to read.
Dear Father,
This must come as quite a shock to receive a letter from me when we've never met and you haven't known me for 24 years. Up until a few months ago, I thought that this was what you wanted, and that you had died because of it. I learned from someone else that knew you and my mother that this was not the case.
All my life my mother told me that if I hadn't been born, you and she would have been truly happy together, and that I destroyed whatever hope she had for a normal life. I grew up seeing my mother marry different men and then see them disappear years later, knowing that the only man she ever claimed to love left her when I came into the picture. I guess it's rather stupid to say sorry for believing that now, isn't it?
I'm not sure if you were aware, but Calanthe died last October. She moved away from England in July of 1998, and even though she wanted to be buried in Italy, I decided to give her one last loving send-off by burying here in a cemetery not far from Zabini Manor here in England. If you hadn't gathered, my mother and I did not get along very well, especially the past year.
A bit about me then. I'm a potions master at a small healing clinic in Hogsmeade, Scotland with my best mate's girlfriend. I have an assistant who is one of the most logical people I've ever met, and has no sense of humor or sarcasm. I don't get along with the other two healers. One is the boyfriend to a particularly punch-prone Scottish ex-girlfriend and the other likes to push buttons and pretend he's going to steal away with my things. The receptionist hates me because I constantly mess up her filing system, but I have to play nice because she's best school-friends with my fiance, Hannah. I still live here in the Zabini Manor, along with Hannah, and five foster kids Hannah and her bleeding heart insisted we take in when their mother went missing.
Hannah is the one who insisted I try to get in touch with you, now that I knew the real story. She suggested I visit, but I was half-hoping you were unavailable, hence the pre-written letter. If you want to ignore this letter, then I'll just continue with my daily routine like usual. But, if you'd like to visit or even owl back, that'd be nice too.
Sorry to disrupt your life.
Your son,
Blaise Callisto Zabini.
Alessandro leaned away in shock. This changed a few things. Making a quick decision, he decided to leave the office early. He had much to think about.
[Summary]: Hannah goes with Blaise as he makes first contact with his father.
His entire life, his mother had told him that when he had been conceived, his father wanted nothing to do with him, and told her to go to England and stay there. He sent just enough money to keep Calanthe comfortable, and even more to ensure she stayed out of his life.
After searching for more than a week for the truth, he had found out this wasn't true at all.
His mother seduced his Alessandro into an affair. He had been engaged at the time, but his mother was particularly convincing when she wanted to be. After ensuring conception with a fertility potion, she became pregnant. When she had proof that a baby was on its way, she went to Alessandro and demanded the English manor which was hardly used anyway, money every month, and safe passage to England. If he didn't comply, she'd go to his family and tell them everything.
Alessandro gave into her demands and signed over everything. During the pregnancy, his mother had stayed in England, but a month before Blaise had been born, she went back to Italy and gave birth to him there. She contacted Alessandro and again threatened to go to his family if he didn't agree to sign the birth certificate to give Blaise the Zabini name. Newlywed and worried about what would happen to his family if he announced an illegitimate child, he agreed only if Calanthe never stepped foot in Italy again.
Of course she broke that promise numerous times. He remembered Italy from when he was younger, but they never did stay long. A few days at most. Blaise always wondered why they never stayed longer, especially since his mother always came back from Italy so happy.
Blaise snorted. She probably wrangled his father out of more money when she went. And when he had turned 18 and his mother left, she had stayed between Italy and Greece. Calanthe herself was half-Italian and half-Greek. He guessed that since he had the inheritance and would never leave her without money that it was fine to stay in Italy and not go near his father. Most of his information on the Zabini family showed they stayed in northern Italy, with only a few extended family members staying in the southern part of the country.
Hannah couldn't believe she was in Italy. Kristen was running the bakery, and Grace was staying with the sitter Quinn recommended. Her own daughter Erin stayed with the woman. Hannah found she rather liked Sarafinn Strega. She planned on having the woman to tea one afternoon so that Blaise could know her as well. Especially since he was so fond of Grace.
She was having to hurry to keep up with her fiance. He was walking quite briskly. She was wearing a green dress and looking very ladylike today. She hoped Alessandro Zabini saw Blaise today. It was more important to Blaise than he was letting on.
Blaise was nervous. Very nervous. He had no idea what the outcome of today would be, and he wasn't used to not being absolutely certain of everything. He turned to ask Hannah a question but found her to be a few steps behind.
"Sorry," he said, wincing. "I don't mean to race ahead of you. We're not far from the main office."
Hannah tucked her arm through his. "It's all right. You're nervous. There's no need to be. How can anyone not adore you? Though I could be biased."
Hannah was amazed at the security in the building. They had to surrender their wands and were subjected to security spells for hidden threats. Then they were stopped at the first reception desk on the ground floor. Hannah tried to understand, but she was still learning Italian. She was taking it upon herself to learn Italian and Greek since that was part of Blaise's heritage. She was teaching Grace some Italian as well. If Blaise's father did come see them, it would be nice for the children to be able to speak to him in his native tongue.
Blaise nodded at the woman at the front desk and pulled Hannah along. "We can go up to the floor where his office is, mainly because only his personal secretary knows his schedule. He's in a meeting at the moment though," he whispered to her as they walked towards the lifts. "At least she wasn't too rude about it."
"I only understood two words she said," Hannah said with a sigh. "I'm going to have to hire a tutor."
Blaise gave her a look as they stepped into the lift.
"I'm learning Italian and Greek. How do you feel about a vacation in Greece with all of the children late this summer before they have to return to school?"
"You won't need a tutor. I'll help you out." Blaise was touched that Hannah was learning the languages he grew up learning. "And Greece sounds lovely. I love the country. Mother used to take me there when I was little. I was obsessed with learning about the mythical Muses. There are some great restaurants in Athens."
They arrived on the floor he had been instructed to go to, and Blaise had to take a deep breath. He tightened his grip on Hannah's hand.
"Here we go."
Hannah gave his hand a squeeze. She waited back a bit as he approached the secretary's desk. She perused the waiting area and tried not to look antsy.
"Does Alessandro Zabini see anyone outside of appointments?" Blaise asked, half-hoping the answer was yes, and then wanting the answer to be no at the same time.
"I'm sorry sir, he doesn't. I'd be happy to schedule you an appointment, though. He doesn't have any openings until next Thursday," one of the secretaries replied immediately.
Blaise shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Could you send this to him though?" He handed over the letter and the secretary immediately took it, scanning it for spells. When she was done, she looked up at him with a quill ready.
"And who should I tell him the sender is?"
Blaise gave her a small grin. "Tell him Calanthe's son. She's an old friend of his."
The secretary nodded. "Can I get anything else for you?"
Blaise shook his head and looked over at Hannah. "You ready?"
"If you are," Hannah replied, a bit disappointed.
His father had not seen him. She was hoping he would. Then again Blaise had probably not said who he was. Blaise obviously wanted to go. She put her arm through his as they left the building.
"Did you want to go shopping or anything? Get some food? Show me anything? Something to make you feel better?"
With a sigh, Blaise tried to put his mind on the present instead of going over the many scenarios of what might have happened if his father had seen him. "Let's pop down to Venice. Plenty of good food and shopping. You may be able to convince one of the bakers to teach you about their bread. Sound good?"
"That sounds wonderful. Is Venice the place with the boats? What are they called? Gondolas? We could be tourist-y and take a ride in one."
Blaise made a face. He didn't like the gondolas, but he'd bear one for Hannah. She was getting excited, and that made him excited a bit. "If we must."
"I've never been on one, and I want my first time to be with you."
She blushed at the lecherous look on his face and just knew a mention that her first time had already been with him was on the horizon. It secretly pleased her that no one else had ever touched her in such a way and no one else ever would.
The secretary was about to tuck away the letter into a package of mail going up to the executive offices, which was where Alessandro was holding meetings, when the recipient of the letter walked out into the lobby.
"Signor Zabini!" she shouted, waving him over when he looked towards her. "A letter just came for you from a young man requesting an audience with you. I told him you were unavailable, and instead of requesting an appointment, he just left this."
Alessandro accepted the note. "And who is the sender?"
"He said he was a son of a friend of yours. Her name was Calanthe?" Alessandro's head snapped up from the letter to the secretary.
"Calanthe? Is the boy here?"
The secretary shook her head. "I'm sorry. He and the woman who came with him just left. He didn't leave a name."
"I know his name," Alessandro said, fingering the letter before turning back to the secretary. "Cancel everything for the rest of the day. I'll be in my office in case of an emergency." He immediately went into to his office and closed the door, putting a strong locking charm on it for good measure. He sat in his chair behind his desk, and with shaking hands, he undid the Zabini seal on the letter. After he took the letter out, he laid it flat on the desk and started to read.
Dear Father,
This must come as quite a shock to receive a letter from me when we've never met and you haven't known me for 24 years. Up until a few months ago, I thought that this was what you wanted, and that you had died because of it. I learned from someone else that knew you and my mother that this was not the case.
All my life my mother told me that if I hadn't been born, you and she would have been truly happy together, and that I destroyed whatever hope she had for a normal life. I grew up seeing my mother marry different men and then see them disappear years later, knowing that the only man she ever claimed to love left her when I came into the picture. I guess it's rather stupid to say sorry for believing that now, isn't it?
I'm not sure if you were aware, but Calanthe died last October. She moved away from England in July of 1998, and even though she wanted to be buried in Italy, I decided to give her one last loving send-off by burying here in a cemetery not far from Zabini Manor here in England. If you hadn't gathered, my mother and I did not get along very well, especially the past year.
A bit about me then. I'm a potions master at a small healing clinic in Hogsmeade, Scotland with my best mate's girlfriend. I have an assistant who is one of the most logical people I've ever met, and has no sense of humor or sarcasm. I don't get along with the other two healers. One is the boyfriend to a particularly punch-prone Scottish ex-girlfriend and the other likes to push buttons and pretend he's going to steal away with my things. The receptionist hates me because I constantly mess up her filing system, but I have to play nice because she's best school-friends with my fiance, Hannah. I still live here in the Zabini Manor, along with Hannah, and five foster kids Hannah and her bleeding heart insisted we take in when their mother went missing.
Hannah is the one who insisted I try to get in touch with you, now that I knew the real story. She suggested I visit, but I was half-hoping you were unavailable, hence the pre-written letter. If you want to ignore this letter, then I'll just continue with my daily routine like usual. But, if you'd like to visit or even owl back, that'd be nice too.
Sorry to disrupt your life.
Your son,
Blaise Callisto Zabini.
Alessandro leaned away in shock. This changed a few things. Making a quick decision, he decided to leave the office early. He had much to think about.
[Summary]: Hannah goes with Blaise as he makes first contact with his father.